Incarceration Records

Incarceration Records

Incarceration records can contain sensitive information to a criminal case you were involved in. Federal regulations require the courts to document and file everything that goes through the court system. If you've ever been incarcerated, there are likely incarceration records out there with your name on it for everyone to see.

Being incarcerated is a stressful time for anyone, no matter the severity of the case. Mistakes are made everyday and will eventually lead to a punishment or penalty. Incarceration records don't always tell the whole story, though. Many of the people found are legitimately trying to get their lives back on track.

Although laws and regulations prevent many incarceration records to be kept on criminal background checks beyond 10 years, it won't prevent this information from being displayed in your public record. They will be filed and kept with the other court records until their scheduled disposal.

You can find incarceration records by visiting the online database for the specific court system the case was tried in. Likewise, you can take a trip to the clerk's office to request these records. Either way, you are sure to find the information you need if you know where to look.

If you're not trying to unlock your full inner-detective and would rather just get straight to the details, there are much quicker ways to find someone's incarceration records online. It doesn't have to involve fancy and confusing databases if you don't want it to.

Before you begin searching through someone's sensitive information, you should understand what you're looking at and what the information is telling you. Let's first take a look at what an incarceration is exactly.

What Are Incarceration Records

Incarceration is defined as the state of being confined in jail or prison. When you get arrested for a crime, you go through a series of vigorous processes to determine whether you're guilty or not guilty. If found guilty, you will be handed a punishment or penalty. If that punishment involves a jail or prison sentence, it will show up in your incarceration records.

Incarceration records can contain serious crimes, as well as less-serious crimes, depending on the state that crime is committed in. Spending on the length of incarceration, it will likely fall under one of three categories -- a felony, a misdemeanor, or an infraction.

It doesn't matter what crime you commit, if you have ever served time or been dealt a fine as a result, those records could be available for everyone to see.

Misdemeanor vs. Felony vs. Infraction

The difference between the three convictions is quite simple. A felony will normally consist of five classes: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E. A felony can result in the defendant being incarcerated anywhere from 1 year to a life sentence -- including the death penalty. Felonies are the most serious crimes and can involve murder, rape, burglary, sex trafficking, and drug trafficking.

A misdemeanor is a less-serious crime that can still have a negative effect on society. Misdemeanors will fall under there classes: Class A, Class B, and Class C. The incarceration punishment for a misdemeanor can range from 5 days to 1 year. Though not as severe as a felony, misdemeanors can include traffic violations, assault, theft, and drug possession.

Lastly, an infraction is for even less-serious crimes than a misdemeanor and are often used as a warning. Infractions can result in up to 5 days of incarceration.

Since all three of these convictions can result in the defendant being incarcerated, there's a chance they show up in your incarceration records. If you've ever served time in prison or a jail cell, your night want to look up your incarceration records to see what else people can read about you.

Do Incarceration Records Show Arrests?

While incarceration records normally won't show arrests unless there was a conviction that followed, that doesn't mean your arrest history can't be found elsewhere.

In regards to criminal background checks, your arrest history will likely clear after 7-10 years has passed since the arrest. The same goes for your incarceration records.

There is a chance, however, that your arrest history and incarceration records are kept on your public record for the rest of your life. This information can't be used to discriminate against you in any way, but it can be viewed by your family, friends, and anyone else willing to search for your name.

What Else Can Public Records Show?

Public records can contain much more than your criminal and incarceration records. They can give detailed information about your personal life including your address, phone number, email address, social media accounts, and online dating profiles. It'll even list out possible relatives, friends, neighbors, roommates, associates, and business partners.

Your public record will show public history, lien records, bankruptcy history, asset records, properties owned, judgments against you, evictions, foreclosures, businesses, and any licenses or permits owned.

You can use these public records to confirm your own information is correct or to dig up information you didn't know about people you talk to on a daily basis -- including your family.

How to Find Incarceration Records

There's a lot of information out there and it has to be filed or documented somewhere. Some websites out there are designed to sift through these databases located all around the web and put the information in a single, easy-to-read report.

You can start your search today by utilizing the search engine located on our website. If you have the first and last name of the person you'd like to search for, go ahead and enter it into the corresponding boxes. Once you hit 'Search,' you'll be directed to a results page.

Because so many people will share the same name as the person you searched for, you might have to do a little extra digging to find the right person -- but they're there somewhere! Knowing the date of birth, city they reside in, education history, or even their work history can help you narrow the search down.